QuoteReplyTopic: Where do all the unsold boards go- Posted: Apr/28/2011 at 5:12am

This question may have been answered before, but after a quick search I couldn't find it. What happens to all the old model snowboards (that haven't been bought) after the new models come out. I can only ever seem to find 2 yr old boards at the oldest anywhere. Does anyone sell these boards? I can imagine you could get a pretty good deal. I guess this goes for anything: bindings, boots, etc.

I think after a certain period of time they are returned to the manufacturer, but I don't know for sure. It's a good question though, as even on ebay it's hard to find a lot of boards older than a few years that aren't super beat up.

I mock your value system and you look foolish in the eyes of others. - Homer Simpson

The difference in tech within 2+ years would be pretty big thou wouldn't it?

Yea there could be a difference but rarely is there THAT big of a difference between 2 years unless it's a total redesign. Most of the time the tech change is a few small things that most riders wouldn't even notice anyways. Give me a 3 year old board at 50-60% off over a few new carbon fiber rods placed inside the board

I mock your value system and you look foolish in the eyes of others. - Homer Simpson

It would be great if they are returned to the manufacturer, then the green-thinker in me hopes they would melt down the material and recycle it into new product, but I don't know if that actually happens or even could happen. The material might be compromised after being recycled.

l'm sure they can recycle it because lve seen some ride board that are made with recycle/post consumed goods. but depends if they are willing to braek the board down to the specific components or simply buy it

Mrrorydigital, that was funny as hell. To the op, this is a good question. Now that I think about it, I too can't find any new /unused boards on eBay that are more than a few years old. We can only hope that we will get in on some of those deals if the older boards do make it back, or stay on the market.

I thought they kept them up for sale, but didn't market them with a year. They can keep the price a little higher and just market it as is instead of having to mark it way down (though admittedly it should be marked down quite a bit).

l'm sure they can recycle it because lve seen some ride board that are made with recycle/post consumed goods. but depends if they are willing to braek the board down to the specific components or simply buy it

Your logic is flawed on this assumption-just because you've seen boards that are made with recycled materials does not mean that you can take an unsold snowboard and recycle those materials to make another snowboard.

I'm assuming that they use other kinds of recycled materials that they then make a snowboard out of. For example, on the old Burton EcoNico the edges and base were manufactured out of recycled materials, and they used natural materials such as "green wax" to avoid using chemicals that harm the environment.

My original thought was the isle of misfit toys, but seriously does anyone who works for a boardshop or somewhere else in the industry have any input? If they are just sitting in warehouses, that's excess inventory that isn't making any money, so you would think they'd get marked down significantly until they are sold. And this may be the case, however I just can't imagine that the big guys like Burton can possibly get rid of their whole stock of boards within the 2 seasons they are typically marketed.

one of the local sports stores here also has a discount store, and while they usually have pretty good deals(though they're seasonal), the boards ive seen there are at least 5+yrs and still with a pretty penny price tagon em....

l'm sure they can recycle it because lve seen some ride board that are made with recycle/post consumed goods. but depends if they are willing to braek the board down to the specific components or simply buy it

You can't recycle a snowboard at all. It's pretty much fused permanently when you make it. You could down-cycle the board into something way less useful, but I've never seen a good use for one. Most "re-cycled" products are down-cycled. Once you re-cycle something it's never as good as the original raw material and almost always mixed with a certain amount of raw material.

You'd probably be better off making a bench or a fence with old boards.

I was on line today on another site and saw some 2009 DC boards still listed at a higher price than what some of the 2010 models are being sold for on other sites. If they sell those 2 year old decks at closeout prices, they will be gone. Keep them at a price close to the 2010 model, and somebody would be crazy to buy a 2009 when you can get a newer model for a few (literally a few) dollars morre. I don't understand. I guess that's why I'm not in retail.

they go on sale for wicked cheap because the stores are looking to get rid of the inventory...i've seen 2 yr old boards in stores many times...many stores hold onto them and then just sell them the following year

I know that both Rome and Burton have huge mid summer clearance sales that unload a shit ton of their previous seasons inventory at discounts of 60% or more. I bought my '08 T6 and a pair of '09 C60's (both new) at the B sale a few years ago for just over $500. Rome had a bunch of boards, binders and soft goods at their sale last year at similar discounts. Jones just had some mountain twins on The Clymb a little over a month ago at 50% off so I'm sure other manufacturers do the same.

Two weeks ago I bought my 9yr old a 2010 custom 140 and an '09 pair of lexa bindings for under $250 from a local resort that had them sitting around and wanted them gone, so you can definitely find good deals and bargin with shops on leftovers after the season is over.

I just saw a super steez'y bench seat at a local Tahoe shop that used two snowboards to make a bench. It was pretty sick. Not sure if the decks were new or old, but it would be cool if all shops did that. It would be even better if after 2 seasons of a board just sittig in the shop, if they made some sort of bench seat, or some good ol wall art.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot create polls in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum